Pages

Saturday, September 13, 2014

What’s better than a new baby Penguin at the Tennessee Aquarium? Two new baby Penguins! Two Gentoo Penguin
chicks - born to two separate Penguin pairs – are just over a month old
and already showing their plucky Penguin personalities.

Photo Credit: Tennessee Aquarium

The oldest of the two chicks “is already testing boundaries,”
says Aquarium aviculturist Loribeth Aldrich. The little Penguin is
already investigating everything with its beak and continually knocking
over mom and dad’s food bowl. The chick already makes a hissing sound,
similar to the warning hiss of a goose, which is typically heard in
adult Penguins.

The second chick seems happiest in the nest, snuggled up behind mom
and dad. However, during checkups and weigh-ins, this cuddly-looking
chick shows its feisty side.

With three Penguin chicks and the possibility of more on the way,
Curator of Forests Dave Collins explains that the foundation of the
Aquarium’s Penguin breeding program was laid in 2007. “A strong
husbandry program is key in making sure every bird’s needs are met,”
said Collins. “Proper diet, a strict cleaning schedule and outstanding
veterinary support are very important – especially during nesting
season. These factors contribute to the best conditions possible for the
colony, which are needed to encourage bonding, strong mating pairs and
healthy chicks.”

The chicks are in temporary “playpens” for a few weeks, but can still
be seen in the exhibit. “It won’t be safe for them to get in the water
until they have grown their swim feathers,” explains Aldrich.
Gentoo Penguins are native to the coastlines of Antarctica and
islands in the southern Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. They are listed as
Near Threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Live Blackfooted Penguins in HD - Monterey Bay Aquarium

Aquarium of the Pacific Live Penguin Cam

Listen to the Gentoo Purr

The Torgersen Island Penguin Camera

The Penguin Camera is located on Torgersen Island (64°46’S, 64°04’W), off the coast of Anvers Island and less than a mile from Palmer Station. Torgersen Island is home to a colony of Adélie penguins numbering approximately 2,500. This camera is seasonal and operates primarily from October to February, the Adélie breeding season. The camera is solar-powered and may sometimes experience brief outages due to inclement weather. School classrooms and other educational demonstrations will often take control of the camera, moving it to gain better views of the colony.